Encourage your cat to use a scratching post with your scent
Cat owners can rub a used item of their clothing or a wet, used towel on their cat’s scratching post to encourage her to use it.
Cats love the scent of a damp, recently used towel (my cat in my towel):
I find that impregnating the post or board (horizontal cat scratcher) with catnip is successful too. Cat scratching boards or blocks which rest on the ground for horizontal scratching are supplied with catnip which you sprinkle onto the scratcher. This is why cats sometimes sit or sleep on these boards. They like the scent of catnip.
However, Jackson Galaxy says that it is hit and miss if catnip encourages a cat to use a scratching post. I disagree with him. I find that catnip works well.
But the idea of rubbing used clothing onto the post is a nice one. Not only does it encourage use of the scratcher it also merges the cat owner’s scent with that of the cat – a mingling of scents. Cats like that. It makes them feel more at home. It reassures the cat.
I not sure whether it is more successful than catnip. I sense that it is less successful to be honest but certainly worth trying.
I’d love to hear from visitors on this subject. Do you encourage your cat to use a scratching post with your scent? How do you encourage your cat to use the cat scratching post and have you tried using your scent? Try it out and tell me!
